Dugu wrote:Just curious which tradition would you guys have pick if there was no Theravada.

Any "tradition" which respects and encourages us to practice the Noble Eightfold Path would be acceptable.

... the Blessed One said, "In any doctrine & discipline where the noble eightfold path is not found, no contemplative of the first... second... third... fourth order [stream-winner, once-returner, non-returner, or arahant] is found. But in any doctrine & discipline where the noble eightfold path is found, contemplatives of the first... second... third... fourth order are found. The noble eightfold path is found in this doctrine & discipline, and right here there are contemplatives of the first... second... third... fourth order. Other teachings are empty of knowledgeable contemplatives. And if the monks dwell rightly, this world will not be empty of arahants."(Mahaparinibbana Sutta, DN 16, trans. Bhikkhu Thanissaro)

"When we transcend one level of truth, the new level becomes what is true for us. The previous one is now false. What one experiences may not be what is experienced by the world in general, but that may well be truer. (Ven. Nanananda)

“I hope, Anuruddha, that you are all living in concord, with mutual appreciation, without disputing, blending like milk and water, viewing each other with kindly eyes.” (MN 31)

i started in zen, and was quite happy there, i only ended up in theravada because i had a ticket to thailand and decided to use my time there visiting and living in temples... so if no theravada then it'd still be zen

สัพเพ สัตตา สุขีตา โหนตุ

the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat

Well, I am not "officially" Theravadin (yet), but I will give my opinion anyway.

Probably Tibetan or Shingon. Vajrayana seems to have quite an array of meditative practices, both samatha and vipassana, which appeal to me more than the single practice methods of Chan/Zen or the pure devotionalism of Pure Land/Nichiren. I must admit that I also find the rituals, philosophy and theories behind tantric practice pretty captivating.

I do not want my house to be walled in on sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.- Gandhi

With persistence aroused for the highest goal's attainment, with mind unsmeared, not lazy in action, firm in effort, with steadfastness & strength arisen, wander alone like a rhinoceros.

Not neglecting seclusion, absorption, constantly living the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma, comprehending the danger in states of becoming, wander alone like a rhinoceros.- Snp. 1.3

++++++++++++++++This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

There is freedom from birth, freedom from becoming, freedom from making, freedom from conditioning. If there were not this freedom from birth, freedom from becoming, freedom from making, freedom from conditioning, then escape from that which is birth, becoming, making, conditioning, would not be known here. -- Ud 80

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoine.People live in one another’s shelter.

jcsuperstar wrote:i started in zen, and was quite happy there, i only ended up in theravada because i had a ticket to thailand and decided to use my time there visiting and living in temples... so if no theravada then it'd still be zen

How long were you in Zen? And what was it about Theravada that made you switch?

---The trouble is that you think you have time------Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe------It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---

"For a disciple who has conviction in the Teacher's message & lives to penetrate it, what accords with the Dhamma is this:'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70 Kitagiri Sutta

A good, accurate description can be found in R Gethin's FOUNDATION OF BUDDHISM.

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++++++++++++++++This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

There is freedom from birth, freedom from becoming, freedom from making, freedom from conditioning. If there were not this freedom from birth, freedom from becoming, freedom from making, freedom from conditioning, then escape from that which is birth, becoming, making, conditioning, would not be known here. -- Ud 80

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoine.People live in one another’s shelter.

Sanghamitta wrote:Heedless hedonism.If there was no Theravada I wouldnt bother. For me its the only logical coherent approach to life.

I am aware that other alternatives are on offer.

Sometimes I feel like I'm a hedonist trying my best to be Theravadan. So the other tradition does not appeal to you?

Its all academic really isnt it Dugu, for all I know if there was no Theravada the other traditions would not exist either. I am quite convinced that the other traditions are departures from the Theravada..But to go along with the game, perhaps on reflection one of of the Sangha based and less speculative Mahayana schools , one of the Chinese ones or the Gelugpa might do in a pinch. As long as I didnt have to think too much about the origin of their Sutras as representing other than poetry. And I am aware that this is the way that some see the Pali Canon too, but I think that those who do are swinging to another extreme on the spectrum. I remain convinced for good reasons that the Pali Canon in the main and by and large represents the actual teachings of the historical Buddha.

The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Sanghamitta wrote:Heedless hedonism.If there was no Theravada I wouldnt bother. For me its the only logical coherent approach to life.

I am aware that other alternatives are on offer.

Sometimes I feel like I'm a hedonist trying my best to be Theravadan. So the other tradition does not appeal to you?

Its all academic really isnt it Dugu, for all I know if there was no Theravada the other traditions would not exist either. I am quite convinced that the other traditions are departures from the Theravada..But to go along with the game, perhaps on reflection one of of the Sangha based and less speculative Mahayana schools , one of the Chinese ones or the Gelugpa might do in a pinch. As long as I didnt have to think too much about the origin of their Sutras as representing other than poetry. And I am aware that this is the way that some see the Pali Canon too, but I think that those who do are swinging to another extreme on the spectrum. I remain convinced for good reasons that the Pali Canon in the main and by and large represents the actual teachings of the historical Buddha.

Last edited by Cittasanto on Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

This offering maybe right, or wrong, but it is one, the other, both, or neither!Blog,-Some Suttas Translated,Ajahn Chah."Others will misconstrue reality due to their personal perspectives, doggedly holding onto and not easily discarding them; We shall not misconstrue reality due to our own personal perspectives, nor doggedly holding onto them, but will discard them easily. This effacement shall be done."